prime English · revision 3011

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 961|origins=la prīmus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /praɪm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ All its senses go back to [[la|prīmus|t=first; chief, excellent]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[itc-pro|*prīsmos]], a superlative of [[ine-pro|*preis-|t=before]],^(Etymonline) related to Old Latin prī “before” and to [[prior]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The noun, the first canonical hour, is [[inh|ang|prīm]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) [[der|la-med|prīma|t=the first service]], from [[m|la|prīma hōra|t=the first hour]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) reinforced by Old French prime.^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) The adjective, in late Middle English, is [[bor|fro|prime]] and directly from Latin prīmus.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, “to fill, load”, is probably from the adjective, since priming something is the first step before using it.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The canonical hour of prime, about 6 a.m.: about 961 in Old English.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) The adjective, “first in order of time, basic”, is from about 1385, in Usk's ''Testament of Love''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun came to mean the first hour of the day (about 1290)^(OED 1989) and the beginning of a period (1385, in Chaucer).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) From the idea of the time of greatest vigour (1530s) came “the springtime of human life”, roughly the ages 21 to 28, in the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and the best part of anything, also in the 1590s.^(Etymonline) The adjective meant “of the first excellence” from about 1400^(Etymonline) and “first in rank” from the 1610s;^(Etymonline) a ''prime number'' is from the 1560s^(Etymonline) and the ''prime meridian'' from 1878.^(Etymonline) ''Prime time'' first meant “spring time”, about 1500, and peak broadcasting hours by 1961.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to load a gun”, is from 1513, in a translation of the ''Aeneid'';^(Barnhart 1988) “to give a first coat of paint” is from 1609,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''prime the pump'', pouring water into a pump to start it, from 1769.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 961 – the canonical hour of prime.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1385 – adjective, first in time.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – of the first excellence.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1513 – verb, to load a gun.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1560s – ''prime number''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – the prime of life.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1609 – verb, to give a first coat.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1769 – ''prime the pump''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1961 – ''prime time''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # First in importance or rank; [[chief]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of the best quality; [[excellent]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # First in time or order; [[original]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' Of a number, divisible only by itself and 1.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The time of greatest strength or success in a life: ''in her prime''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The best part of something.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # The second of the canonical hours, about 6 a.m.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A [[prime number]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make ready, as a gun for firing or a pump for working.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # To give a first coat of paint or primer.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # To prepare someone with information beforehand.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[primely]]

+ * [[primeness]]

+ * [[nonprime]]

+ * [[subprime]]

+ * [[primality]]

+ * [[reprime]]

+ * [[primer]]

+ * [[prime rate]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[primal]]

+ * [[primary]]

+ * [[primate]]

+ * [[Primates]]

+ * [[primitive]]

+ * [[prince]]

+ * [[premier]]

+ * [[prior]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}